Four Cork players named on minor hurling team of the year
Cork's Cormac Deane celebrates a score during the Electric Ireland Munster MHC final win over Waterford at FBD Semple Stadium. Picture: Diarmuid Brennan
Four Cork players have been named in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Hurling Team of The Year.
Fergal McCormack’s side claimed the county’s first Munster title at the grade since 2021 as they recorded a perfect record of four wins from four in the round-robin stage and then saw off Waterford in the provincial final.
Unfortunately, however, the Rebels’ campaign came to an end at the All-Ireland semi-final stage with defeat to Clare, who then lost out to the Déise in the decider.
While the year ended on a disappointing note, Cork’s season featured far more highs than lows and that is reflected in the fact that corner-back Darragh Heavin, wing-backs Michael Tadhg Brosnan and Colm Garde and centre-forward Cormac Deane have all been rewarded with recognition in the team of the year.
Waterford have five players selected – including player of the year Cormac Spain – with Clare having four while Leinster champions Kilkenny have two.
Darragh Heavin, from Russell Rovers, was a fixture in the number 2 jersey for Cork. While he was generally giving away a height advantage to those he was charged with marking, his superb game-reading ability meant that he was not handicapped to any great degree.
Whether stationed close to goal in a traditional corner-back setting or following a roving attacker out the field, Heavin made his presence felt and even chipped in with some important scores.
Much of Cork’s success came from the supremacy of the half-back line of Michael Tadhg Brosnan, captain Bobby Carroll and Colm Garde. While Carroll was pipped to a spot in the team by Dara Kennedy, who was excellent for Clare, Brosnan and Garde were rewarded for a series of fine displays.
Both were part of the minor set-up in 2024, but Brosnan of Glen Rovers featured in a more attacking role back then. His relocation to the half-back line allowed Cork to utilise his aerial ability and strong running while he proved to be a very valuable scoring outlet – he finished with three points in the semi-final defeat.
On the other flank, Garde – who had excelled for Midleton in the Dr Harty Cup, despite that being an U19 competition – was central to so much of what Cork did, with his hand under a dropping ball more often than not. When inspiration was required at various stages during the campaign, the Lisgoold man was one of those to provide it.
In attack, Cork had a talented cast, with different players showing up strongly in different games, such as the three goals pilfered by Callum Coffey in the round-robin win away to Clare in Tulla.
Ruairc Donovan also impacted well while Sam Ring had a game-changing intervention off the bench in the Munster final but for overall consistency, Cormac Deane of Killeagh got the nod for the team. The son of the legendary Joe, Deane’s highlight was the eight-point haul from play in the home win over Waterford while he scored a goal and was unlucky not to get another in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Unlucky to miss out was Deane’s half-forward line colleague, Craig O’Sullivan, who was ultra-reliable from dead balls and popped up with vital scores at various stages.
Leon Talty (Clare); , Conor Lynch (Waterford), Darragh Keane (Waterford); , Dara Kennedy (Clare), ; Graham Ball (Clare), Gearóid O’Shea (Waterford); Shane Power (Waterford), , Jake Mullen (Kilkenny); Cormac Spain (Waterford), Paul Rodgers (Clare), Cian Byrne (Kilkenny).
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